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Exhibit curator wows SVES 3rd graders
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Posted on Feb 22 2006
Noel B. Quitugua, currently the exhibit curator at the Northern Mariana Islands Museum of History and Culture, addressed third grade students at San Vicente Elementary School Tuesday, Feb. 21, on “Ancient Chamorro Culture.”
Five homeroom classes of 3rd graders under Rosalinda Adams, Carmen Agulto, Ellen Rayphand, Terri Patris and Lou Mendiola were divided into two groups to engage Quitugua in a rollicking session each of “show and tell” regarding Chamorros in ancient times. With students listening and taking notes from the classroom floor, the array of displays and stories sustained the attention of an erstwhile short-attention-span age-group.
Recipients of numerous awards, Quitugua is recognized as a knowledgeable individual in the field of Chamorro history and culture. In a combination of scholarly pursuit, artistic creation, and personal avocation, Quitagua replicate tools and other ancient materials to illustrate features of Chamorro history and culture. His sketches and drawings are popularly exhibited in any discussion about ancient Chamorros. They also illustrate many periods of historical exhibits at the CNMI museum.
Quitugua was commended by the NMI Council for the Humanities with the 2004 Humanities Teacher Award for sharing his knowledge and wisdom through presentations at schools at all levels. Very well versed on local family histories and an accomplished storyteller, Quitugua easily won the attention of this lower grade audience Tuesday afternoon with his own personal collection of artifacts, local sea shells transformed into artforms, replicated home tools, numerous drawings and sketches, and his vaunted narration of personal and historical events surrounding the Chamorros.
Foremost among the students’ questions were the origins of the Taga stones and its distinctive Marianas architecture, as well as the origins and features of the Chamorro language.
A dynamic speaker and engaging pedagogue, utilizing rich, varied and authentic visual, oral and tactile illustrations, Quitugua remains a valuable resource to schools and classes in bringing to life the world of the Chamorros of ancient past and the contemporary scene.
